Arnavutköy Balıkçısı

I have long heard about Arnavutkoy Balikcisi being the best meyhane on what I like to call Fish Row. Being extremley close to my house and actually getting a reservation, I decided to jump in! On the outside, it doesn’t look like much. Upon enterering it was much more posh (company included) then I had imagined. We decided to stick with a few starters and go straight to the warm mezes. We got their grilled octopus, which was excellent, and their grilled calamari, which was to die for.
To me this was a decent eating experience overall. Though loud inside and outside, I have come to expect that from any meyhane. If your looking for an intimate meal with a significant other, this isn’t the place for you. The major con for me was not only the price but the rushed service. The waiter was practically dumping my raki into my glass, spilling two or three times on the table. Maybe becuase I wasn’t wearing a suit or had a rolex on, they were trying to get us out of there as quick as possible!
Still overall good food, but go down the block and go to Zipkin, a much better overall dining expererience!

They are too confident about themselves but the service and food are very ordinary even poor (based on my international experience). Anchovies was not fresh and they just don’t care! What a restaurant! Honestly, grilled calamari was fine.